Issue #4, December 2008

This Issue:

• Welcome
• Engaging and Investing in Communities and the Non-Profit Sector
  in a Time of Change
• An Ethic of Resistance -
  resistance and solidarity in human service work
• Office Solutions for Non-Profits
• Ministry of Children and Family Development -
  Community Advisory Council
• Agency Announcements

Welcome

This is the fourth issue of the electronic newsletter afsa news - a publication of the Association of Family Serving Agencies. Please forward this newsletter and encourage anyone interested to subscribe. Send a message to info@communitycouncil.ca to promote events or suggest articles for the next newsletter.

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AFSA Fall Luncheon: Engaging and Investing in Communities and the Non-Profit Sector in a Time of Change

Written by Theresa Aspol

Demographic change may be even more significant for the non-profit sector than the impending financial crisis will be. This was one of the many observations made by Dr. Evert Lindquist at the Association of Family Serving Agencies' annual fall event.

On November 27, human service professionals representing thirty agencies came together to learn what Dr. Lindquist, Professor at the University of Victoria's School of Public Administration, saw as the current challenges and opportunities facing the non-profit sector. Like Tim Brodhead of the McConnell Foundation, Dr. Lindquist urged non-profit organizations to work broadly and collaboratively. We must, he exhorted us, approach the government as partners, not supplicants. Dr. Lindquist also feels strongly that the sector needs to organize with a view to creating a stable representative structure that could negotiate with the government on its own behalf. To that end, Dr. Lindquist discussed an initiative in which selected representatives from government and the non-profit sector began discussing issues of concern and opportunity, including government contracting, procurement and capacity building.

Participants agreed that discussions like these are important, but they were also quick to note additional challenges that need immediate attention. Concerns include an overall inability to provide comparable wages and benefits to retain staff, unnecessary funding gaps that often require programs to be temporarily halted and staff laid-off, and ever-increasing demands for service. Dr. Lindquist and others agreed that the difficulties are not simple but that what is important is that the conversations are underway.

To read Dr. Lindquist's notes on this presentation, click here.

AFSA gratefully acknowledges the generous support of this event's funders: United Way of Greater Victoria, the Victoria Foundation and the UVic Faculty of Human and Social Development.

To read a report entitled Better Outcomes, Stronger Communities - Enhancing the BC Government Non Profit Relationship, that is published by the BC Government Non-Profit Initiative, click here. Read more about the initiative via their website, www.nonprofitinitiative.gov.bc.ca.

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An Ethic of Resistance

Written by Theresa Aspol

At a recent presentation sponsored by Citizens' Counselling, therapist/activist Vikki Reynolds discussed the role of resistance and solidarity in human service work. For Reynolds, all front-line work is inherently political because it is steeped in relationships of power. Reynolds advises that to be effective rather than exploitive, human service workers need to embrace an ethic of resistance that champions justice.

Honouring human resistance is, for Reynolds, at the centre of what defines this ethic. Reynolds advises front-line workers to recognize that wherever there is oppression there is resistance. Further, resistance should not be judged as effective only if it stops the abuse; rather, resistance is important for its ability to maintain a connection to humanity.

An ethic of resistance also requires that we name the injustices that people face and that we promote a sense of collective responsibility as opposed to individual blame. In an article from Battered Women's Support Services, Reynolds suggests that people are responsible for their actions but not the social context in which they live. Collectively, it is society that tolerates and perpetuates violence, abuse and poverty. This awareness is what demands that all frontline workers become activists for social change.

Throughout her presentation, Reynolds drew on acts of solidarity that she witnessed in Chile and Tibet while working there. In speaking with others about solidarity, Reynolds recounted a discussion she had with a Tibetan monk. He gently but firmly stated that Tibetans did not need medication or psychotherapy from western therapists but instead required political action. Reynolds is equally adamant that political action should not be reserved for other countries but needs to inform human service work everywhere.

For more information, please contact Vikki Reynolds at VReynolds@cityu.edu

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Office Solutions for Nonprofits

Written by Brian Hill - reprinted from the November issue of CAFCA Colandar with permission

On November 3, 2008, the Child and Family Counselling Association (CAFCA) hosted a day-long meeting at Dunsmuir Lodge to explore co-ownership of office space by nonprofit organizations. Registration for this event was at capacity with 30 individuals representing 23 organizations.

The meeting was facilitated by Tim Beachy of the United Community Service Co-op of BC and included presentations by Bob Milne, a lawyer at Jawl & Bundon and Mark Litwin, a Realtor of Royal Lepage Coast Capital. Office space design consultant Gail Tyshynski also contributed by providing questions that CAFCA adapted to create a questionnaire on office needs. CAFCA completed the questionnaire and sent it to the meeting participants to stimulate thoughts before the meeting. CAFCA hopes to partner with a few other organizations to purchase office space, and is hoping to stimulate other partnership groupings through this event as well.

It was a rich day of learning.

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Ministry of Children and Family Development - Community Advisory Council

The Ministry of Children and Family Development (Vancouver Island Region) has established a Community Advisory Council to strengthen the ministry's role with community. The Advisory Council met for the first time in October, another meeting was held in December. The January meeting is expected to approve a terms of reference and profiles of members will soon be available to those interested. Membership includes people from across Vancouver Island. If lower island people have questions or comments please feel free to contact council member Eric Jones at ericjjones@shaw.ca. More information will be forwarded as it is available.

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Agency Announcements

Retirement of David Burns, Executive Director, Child and Family Counselling Association

All are welcome to join in saying good bye to a CAFCA legend on January 15 2009 between 10am and 2pm at CAFCA, suite 5 - 230 Menzies Street.

Please RSVP to CAFCA administration at 250-595-4423 or samb@cafca.ca.

Single Parent Support Circle and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Handbook

Parent Support Services Society in partnership with Single Parent Resource Centre has created a Single Parent Support Circle which meets every Thursday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Child minding is available, along with snacks and travel subsidies. Please refer any interested clients to contact PSS at 250-384-8042 in order to be connected to one of our trained facilitators who run the Support Circle.

Parent Support Services' "Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Legal Research Project" in partnership with the University of Victoria is preparing a February launch of their long-awaited GRG Legal Research Handbook. This handbook follows on the heels of the previously published Resource Booklet. Please advise any Grandparents on your casebooks to contact PSS for their own copy of this important handbook containing knowledge and answers to questions based on surveys from hundreds of Grandparents in B.C., and vetted by some of Victoria's renowned judges and lawyers.

Update from Island Parent Magazine

The January issue of Island Parent is being distributed the week of December 29th.

The next Parenting Teens issue will be published in early March. Island Parent are always looking for resources for parents or their teens to include in the editorial or Resource Section.

As well, Island Parent and Parenting Teens are always looking for editorial - stories, programs, upcoming events, etc.

For editorial consideration: in Island Parent please email Sue Fast at editor@IslandParent.ca in Parenting Teens please email Karen Platt at parentingteens@IslandParent.ca and for calendar items in Island Parent or on website (www.IslandParent.ca) email Linda at events@IslandParent.ca.

Gather Your Treasures for the James Bay Community Project

The James Bay Community Project and the Family Caregivers Network Society are collaborating on a fundraising event: The 3rd annual Art & Treasures Sale and Silent Auction will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at the James Bay Community Project, 547 Michigan Street.

JBCP are casting their net far and wide for interesting donated items such as original art, prints and collectibles including ceramics, china, glassware and art books. If you have any items you would like to donate including business services or new goods please bring them to 547 Michigan Street.

Click here for more details.

CHOICES Adoption & Counselling - free information sessions

CHOICES Adoption & Counselling is a licensed non-profit, non-sectarian adoption agency that has been facilitating adoptions in the community since 1989.

CHOICES offers adoption programs in the following countries: Russia, Nepal, Ecuador, Bulgaria, China, Ethiopia, Haiti, Ghana and St. Vincent. CHOICES also has a domestic program for those interested in adopting a newborn. There are over 200 teens registered and waiting to be adopted on Vancouver Island. For more information on teen adoption or general inquiries please call 479-9811 or view the CHOICES website at www.choicesadoption.ca. Upcoming free information sessions in Victoria: January 18, February 15, March 29, April 26, May 3, June 28.

Conversational Sign Language Course

Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre are offering a conversational sign language course beginning January 22nd. This class is open to the public for anyone who has an interest in basic conversational ASL.

Click here for details.

Victoria Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Centre Tutoring Sessions

The Victoria Epilepsy & Parkinson's Centre offers weekly tutoring sessions from Sept 2008 - May 2009 focusing on:

• - Identifying learning challenges
• - Building on strengths
• - Developing individualized learning strategies

Please help get the word out by sharing this with all families living with epilepsy. Click here for details.

Upcoming Workshops at Volunteer Victoria

Proposal Writing That Works
Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Do you want to learn how professional fundraising works? This workshop is aimed at organizations that want to develop their grant and proposal writing skills. Learn how to communicate more effectively with funders and plan for success. Registration form.

Running a Mentorship Program
Thursday, January 29, 2009, 9 am -noon
More and more agencies are recognizing the value of a mentorship program. Join leading expert in the field, Rey Carr and members of the mentorship task force for workshop on how to create a successful mentorship program. Registration form.

Welcoming Cultural Diversity
Friday, February 27, 2009, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Join two leading experts in the field, Steven Lorenzo Baileys and Moussa Magassa, for a workshop on supporting cultural diversity in your volunteer program. BONUS FOR EARLY REGISTRANTS - Register by January 15th and decide the focus of the workshop. Registration form.

From Changing People...to Helping People Change

Have you ever wondered how you go about helping a young person who has a serious problem such as an addiction? This course provides answers and tools! An effective system for those working with Youth. Workshops in January, February and March, presented by the South Island Centre for Counselling & Training. Click here for details.

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Contact AFSA:
The Association of Family Serving Agencies
c/o Community Council
2-3948 Quadra Street
Victoria, BC V8X 1J6
Tel: 250-383-6166 | Fax: 250-479-9411
email: info@communitycouncil.ca | web: www.communitycouncil.ca and select AFSA